Demand feed system



Dec. 2?, i938. k, DEYRODT MLN DEMAND FEED SYSTEM Filed April 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENToR //Rr @Ey/Poor Z7, E93. K. BEYRODT ME/705 DEMAND FEED SYS TEM Filed April 27, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR /R r .BE YROJJT Patented Dec. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES DEMAND FEED SYSTEM Kurt Beyrodt, Hartford, Conn., assignor to ElectricA Steam Sterilizing Company, Inc., New York,'N. Y., a. corporation of Delaware Application April 27, 1937, Serial No. 139,165

5 claims.v (ci. so-z's) 'I'his invention relates to pressure regulators or may be more appropriately referred to as a demand feed system, or a damping device for pressure regulators.

The demand feed system is particularly well adapted for use in conjunction with instantaneous electric vapor generators such, for example, as that disclosed in my .copending appli-` Other objects of the present invention will be manifest from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view of my improved system in conjunction with an instantaneous vapor generator; and

Fig. 2 is an elevational view partly in section illustrating my improved system in conjunction with a commercial pressure regulator and an instantaneous vapor generator.

Referring to the drawings in detailv and first of all to the form illustrated in Fig. 1. The electric steam or vapor generator, designated 2, is of the type disclosed in my copending application above referred to and comprises a metal mass 4 surrounding an evaporating surface which takes the form of a metal casting 6 extending into the metalmass and provided with a downwardly inclined groove 8 extending helically about Atheperiphery of the casting. Generated steam is conducted upwardly through the center of the generator to anoutlet adjacent the top thereof,

as disclosed in my copending application above referred to, into an autoclave, pressure cooker,

radiator or other pressure vessel I8 for use.

'Ihe feed water is supplied to the generator through a pipe line or conduit I2 in which there- The base I8 is provided with an` is closed at its lower end with a plug 28 having a central bore for the reception of a spring 38 and a valve 32.

The base I8 has a central opening 34 provided with a bushing 36 in its lower end which constitutes a seat for the valve 32 so that when the valve is seated in this bushing the opening 34 is closed, as will be pointed out hereinafter.

Clamped between the base I8 and the cap 28 is la diaphragm 38 provided with a central valve member 48 having a longitudinal bore through the center thereof. This valve member 48 is held to the diaphragm 38 by means of a shouldered sleeve 42 on the upper end of the diaphragm and an annular projection or flange 44 on the valve member 48 below the diaphragm 38, the shouldered sleeve and projection clamping the diaphragm whereby the valve member 48 will move with the diaphragm. The shouldered sleeve 42 is surrounded by a collared sylphon bellows head support 46 which supports a sylphon bellows 48.

The cap or housing 28 is provided with a cupshaped member 58 rigidly secured thereto and receiving the upper end of the sylphon bellows 48. The cup 58 has an annular flange 52 whereby the same is secured tothe housing 28, this flange having a port 54 controlled by a check valve 56. Within the cup-shaped member 58 is another cup-shaped member 58 having a laterally projecting annular flange 68 at its upper end.

A second sylphon bellows 62 is connected loe-l tween the flangesv 52 and 68. The sylphon bellows 48 and 62 communicate with each other through the port 54 above referred to. lWithin (the cup-shaped member 58 there is provided a spring 64 the tension of which is adjustable by means of a screw 66.

The base I8 of the regulator is provided with an outlet port 18 which communicates with the feed Water line I2. A chamber 'I2 formed between the housing 28 and the sylphon bellows 48 communicates with a conduit 14 leading to the waste line I6.

My improved apparatus may be operated continuously or intermittently, as desired, and under these conditions will maintain a constant steam or vapor pressure within the limits of the apparatus and at the same time the feed water or fluid supply will be automatically regulated according to the demandof the steam or Vapor generator. v

Assuming that the valve I4 is in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which case the fluid supply line to the generator is open. With the inlet valve 24 and the valve to the autoclave I8 open, water is free to ilow past the valve-24 and into the chamber 26 of the regulator. the water passing from this chamber through the opening 34 around the valve member 48 to the chamber 31 beneath the diaphragm 38 and by way of port 'I8 to feed line 12', through this line past the valve I4 to the generator 2. The electric power circuit to the generator 2, we will assume, is closed. In accordance with the operation oi the generator 2. as flly described in my copendlng application above referred to, Serial No. 71,883, steam will at once be generated and pass into the autoclave I8. As the steam pressure in tne autoclave |8 rises, depending of course upon the demands on the autoclave, a back pressure will be built up so that the diaphragm 38 will be raised to restrict the passage of water to the chamber 31, the raising of the diaphragm 38 raising the valve 48 and permitting the valve 32 to rise under the action of the spring 38. This upward movement of the valves 48 and 32 is resisted by the spring 64 and the bellows 48 and 62. The bellows 48 and 62 contain a liquid such as oil, for instance, and the upward movement4 of the diaphragm 38 to contact the bellows 48 will force fluid out of this bellows through the port 54, past check valve 56 into the bellows 62. This movement is fairly rapid.

The demands on the autoclave I8, that is to say, the demands on the steam generated in the generator 2 may be such that the valve 32 will in time seat on the seat 36 and prevent the entry of water 'from the supply source into the chamber 31. There will always be, of course, a certain 'amount of radiation from the generator and from the autoclave 8 and it will be. quite apparent that as the steam pressure drops due to this radiation the valve 32 will open slightly so as to admit just enough water to the chamber 31` to make up for the steam lost by radiation. 4When a predetermined steam pressure is reached in the autoclave |8, depending of course upon the design of the apparatus, then a back pressure will be built up on the regulatoland on the lower side of the diaphragm 38, raising this diaphragm still further against the action of the spring 64 and the bellows 48 and 62 so that only the lower end of the valve 48 is above the lower end of the valve seat 36, in which case water and 'l steam can pass from the' chamber 31, passage 34 and between the lower end of the valve 48 and the face of the valve 32, upwardly through the port 4| in the valve 48 and through the port 16 and intorthe space 12 above the diaphragm 38, and from thence by way of line 14 to waste, thereby relieving the pressure in the autoclave I8, and the valve 48 will move downwardly to its original position, that is to say, iiush with the lower face of -the valve' seat 36, assuming that the valve 32v is still closed. This downward movement of the valve 48 is retarded by the fluid in the bellows 48 and 62. It will be understood that on this downward movement of the vvalve 48 and hence expansion of the bellows 48 and 62 the fluid cannot jpass the checkY valve 56, that is tosay, in passing from the bellows 62 to the bellows 48,A the uid is required to pass from the bellows 62 into the bellows 48 through restricted passageway 49 between the members 58 and 58.

If desired the valve |4 may be rotated 90 coune terclockwise so that the generator 2 is open to the waste line I6 when the vapparatus is not in screw threaded to each other.

tions. may be left open, if desired.

Referring now to the form illustrated in Fig. 2, an electric steam or vapor generator, designated |88, similar to that of Fig. 1 is provided having a conduit leading to an autoclave, pressure cooker, radiator or other vessel |82, this conduit be ing controlled by a valve |8|'. Feed water is supplied to the generator through a pipe line or conduit |84. The line |84 is equipped with a valve |86 similar to the valve I4 of Fig. 1.

'A pressure regulator |88 isl provided in this embodiment of my invention without the contained damping device of Fig. 1. This regulator comprises a base ||8 and a cap or housing |28 The vbase ||8 is provided with an inlet port |22 controlled by a valve |24 leading into a chamber 26.

The base ||8 is closed at its lower end by a plug 28 having a central bore for the reception of a spring |38 and a. valve |32. The base ||8I is also provided with a central bore |34 equipped with a bushing |36 in its lower end which is adapted to be engaged'by the valve |32 to close theA opening |34. A diaphragm |38 having its edge clamped between the base I|8 and housing |28 is provided with a central valve member |48 extending through the bushing |36. This central valve is held in the diaphragm 38 by means of a shouldered sleeve |42 lon the upper end of thediaphragm and an annular ange |44 on the valve member |48 on the bottom of the diaphragm. A spring |46 is positioned on the shouldered sleeve |42 and has its upper end in engagement with a stop |48 on a thumb screw |58 by which the tension of the spring is adjusted.

' The outlet port |52 of the regulator of Fig. 2 has a conduit or pipe line |54 leading therefrom to the line |84, past interposed check valve assembly |56 which comprises a housing enclosing a ball |58 and a cap |68. A conduit 0r bypass |62 leads from the feed line |84 to a relief valve assembly |64. This assembly comprises a housing containing a check valve |66. This valve has been shown as spring-loaded for purposes of illustration, it being understood that other types may be used if desired. The spring of the check valve is set for slightly higher pressure than in the regulator. A conduit |68 leads from the relief valve assembly |64 to a waste line |18.

Inoperation and assuming the parts' in the position shown in Fig. 2 with the valves |24 and use. The valves 24 and ||,--under these condi-l |8| open: 'Ihe water can flow into the chamberJ |26 and through passage |34 to the chamber |31 beneath thediaphregm Iss and from thence through port |52, line |54, line |84, raising the check valve |58 and fromv thence past the valve |86 to the generator |88.

Should the pressure generated inthe autoclave A |82 exceed a predetermined amount then it will be appreciated that a back pressure is created sulcient to raise the spring loaded check valve |66 opening the line |84 to waste. Under these condit1ons, however, the check valve |58 remains closed with the result that the diaphragm |38 will be moved up still further against the action of the spring |46 until the valve |32 seats on the seat |36 which will prevent any more water passing to the chamber |31. 'Ihe parts will remain in this position until the pressure in the autoclave 82 is lowered whereupon the valve |66 will again seat due to the action of its spring and water may then passfrom the chamber |31 past the check valve |58 to the generator to supply more water to the same.

If desired the valve |06 when the device is to be out of operation for some time may be moved anti-clockwise 90 to disconnect the feed line |04 from the generator and to connect the feed water terminal of the generator to the Waste line |10.

It is to be understood that my improved demand feed system is particularly Well adapted for use in steam generators such as disclosed in my copending application above referred. to. The device can be employed with such generators in conjunction with any type of pressure vessel such as the autoclave illustrated, or where steam is employed for heating, cooking, sterilizing, expansion processing, etc.

An important feature of the demand feed system of the present invention resides in the fact that there is no steam under pressure in the entire installation after the autoclave has been completely exhausted and no water can enter the steam generator through leakage of the valve I4 since such water would run into the waste through line I6.

It is to be understood that the device of my present invention may be employed without an autoclave, in which case the valve lll of Fig. 1 or the valve IUI of Fig. 2 would always be open to the air and the generator kept dry by operation of the valve I4 of Fig. 1 anc' |06 of Fig. 2 by manipulation of a foot pedal for instance. Such use of my improved device would be advantageous in the practice of clothes pressing machines, for example.

It will be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a demand feed system or damping device which when used in cooperation with a steam generator as herein described will result in a constant steam or vapor pressure and which will automatically regulate the feed water or iluid supply according to the demand.

It is to be understood'also that by connecting the generator feed water terminal to the waste line when the generator is being shut olf will permit the steam pressure in the generator and/or the pressure vessel to drive all residual water out o! the generator and the supply line and thus help to instantaneously stop the generation of steam.

It is to be understood that various changes and modiiicatlons may be made in the structures herein illustrated and described without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is: l

l. A pressure regulating device for use in an instantaneous vapor generator system comprising a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a chamber adjacent said inlet. a chamber adjacent said outlet, a port between said chambers, a diaphragm, a valve carried by said diaphragm for opening said port, a pair o! intercommunicating cooperating sylphon bellows in engagement .with said diaphragm and acting upon said diaphragm against liquid pressure built up in the last mentioned chamber Vfor controlling the admission of liquid supplied to the generator through said outlet in accordance with the demand for vapor upon the generator.

2. A pressure regulating device for use in an instantaneous vapor generator system comprising a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a chamber adjacent said inlet. a chamber adjacent said outlet. a partition dividing said chambers, a port in said partition, a diaphragm, a valve carried by said diaphragm for opening said port, a pair of intercommunicating cooperating sylphon bellows containing a pressure medium, said bellows acting upon said diaphragm against liquid pressure built up in the last mentionedchamber for controlling the admission of liquid .supplied to the generator through said outlet in accordance with the demand for vapor upon the generator.

3. A pressure regulating device for use in an instantaneous vapor generator system comprising a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a chamber adjacent said inlet, a chamber adjacent said outlet, a port between said chambers, a diaphragm, a valve carried by said diaphragm for opening saidport, a pair of sylphon bellows in engagement with said diaphragm, cupshaped members in each of said bellows and telescoping each other, a spring in the inner one of said cup-shaped members, and means for adjusting the tension on said spring, said bellows under the tension of said spring acting upon said diaphragm against liquid pressure built up in the last mentioned chamber for controlling the admission of liquid supplied to the generator through said outlet in accordance with the demand for vapor upon the generator.

4. A pressure regulating device for use in an instantaneous vapor generator system comprislng a housing having a. liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a chamber adjacent said inlet, a chamber adjacent said outlet, a port between said chambers, a diaphragm, a valve carried by said diaphragm for opening said port, a pair of superimposed sylphon bellows on the side of said diaphragm opposite said last mentioned chamber, a pressure medium in said bellows, a check valve providing one way communication for said pressure medium between said bellows whereby upon the raisingv of said diaphragm due to pressure being built up in said chamber adjacent the outlet the pressure medium will be forced from one bellows to the other, and an orice providing communication .between said bellows whereby upon pressure being released at the underside oi' said diaphragm the pressure medium will be slowly returned to the bellows from which it was torcedby way of said check valve, whereby to control the admission of liquid supplied tothe generator through said outlet in accordance with the demand for vapor upon the generator.

5l A pressure regulating device for use in an instantaneous vapor generator system compris- 'ing a housing having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a chamber adjacent said inlet, a chamber adjacent said outlet, a port between said chambers, a diaphragm, a valve carried by said diaphragm for opening said port, said valve having a central bore providing a passage for the liquid from one side oi' said-diaphragm to the other side as the diaphragm raises said valve of! its seat, a pair of intercommunlcating sylphon bellows in engagement with said diaphragm and acting upon said diaphragm against liquid pressure built up in the last mentioned chamber for controlling the admission o! liquid supplied to the generator through said outlet in accordance -with the demand for vapor upon the generator.

KURT BEYROUI. 

